Voice battles begin but lack Urban appeal

Craig Mathieson

Showstopper ... With such a hyped up crowd it is little wonder that Seal and Ricky singing off against one another was so hypnotising. Pity the filming looked more like Day of our Lives.

“Ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War.

Finally, the chairs would not turn. They would bounce, they would light up, they would definitely be sprawled upon, but the coaches' chairs were now facing the stage. Except that the stage had become a ring. After nine lengthy Blind Audition episodes, it was time for The Voice to start the cull with the Battle Rounds.

Looking like he'd come straight from playing Lord Baelish at a Game of Thrones cosplay event, host Darren McMullen laid out the format for the next two weeks, as 64 contestants would be reduced to 32 in a series of “do or die fights”. Just as thoughts turned to weapon selection and whether Delta Goodrem would give the thumbs up or thumbs down for her gladiators to make the final kill, it was revealed that these were vocal battles. Two singers, one song, a lot of unnecessary judging.

Impossible battle ... Anna impressed the judges.

The mentors were deployed, with One Republic's Ryan Tedder (Delta), Ben Lee (Joel Madden), Jessica Mauboy (Ricky Martin) and Sneaky Sound System's Connie Mitchell (Seal) getting the opportunity to sit behind their respective employer and look interested until a Time Out was taken and they were available for consultation. What was the protocol for this quartet getting acquainted? Did they kvetch about their respective coaches or just compare record sales and swiftly come to the conclusion that Tedder had sold more records than the other three combined many times over?

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Before the battles could commence the coaching quartet were required to strut their stuff, striding forth to the glam metal pulse of Muse's Uprising, a song whose Orwellian atmosphere is contrasted by vaguely defiant lyrics that didn't exactly match the party mood the producers were striving for. “They will not degrade us,” sang the coaches, “they will not control us.” Although both outcomes were definitely on the cards for some of the contestants.

Battle 1: Team Delta – Celia Pavey v Anna Weatherup

Beautiful moment ... Celia proved too good to beat.

Delta promised the two acoustic guitar-toting folk singers “moments” in a “magical world” with Christina Perri's A Thousand Years, although her outfit – a wedding dress seemingly made for a giant and a leather jacket – was a moment all of its own. Ryan Tedder, who appeared to be the one mentor who had the authority to make himself heard, offered the first of several simple but effective suggestions by telling them to push a little more air into their vocals with each verse, and soon the two women were on stage where Anna was good but 19-year-old Celia was always better.

Ricky described their brief performance as “a beautiful moment for Australian television”, which makes you wonder how much Australian television he has watched. Although it was purely incidental, he favoured Celia, as did Seal. Joel chose Ben Lee, to give him a shout out, then Anna. Delta, who had found the section marked “Cleopatra” in Cher's wardrobe, promised that the loser would still have her in their life, and then chose Celia. Moments later she had forgotten who Anna was.

Then there was the first instance of a new rule: the three non-adjudicating coaches each have one Save for the Battle Rounds, allowing them to snap up a defeated singer and add them to their own roster. After the verdict was announced there was five seconds for them to throw a lifeline, and while the audience screamed encouragement it was soon apparent that it was a painful coda for contestants who had just had their hopes smashed. No one saved Anna, or “whatshername”, as Delta, who was undoubtedly still in her life, now thought of her.

Showdown ... Host Darren McMullen, centre, with the what had to be the act of the evening; Caterina Torres, left, v Katie Reeve, right, singing Pink's Try.

Winner: Celia

Battle 2: Team Joel – Michael Paynter v Louise Roussety

Michael Paynter, one of several impressive singers who'd previously had a record deal, was looking forward to knowing how Ben Lee had survived as a pop artist in this country for two decades. The answer would be that he'd moved to Los Angeles early on in those two decades. Lee in turn suggested that Michael had to be careful not to look like he was circling Louise, who had her arm in a sling, like a predator sensing weak prey as they sang Justin Bieber's As Long as You Love Me. Perhaps Michael could have queried why something called the Battle Rounds didn't favour that, but instead when the song started he kept a Korean peninsula-worthy demilitarised zone between Louise and himself as his vocals leapt nimbly from key to key as she stumbled in comparison.

Proud ... mentor Delta Goodrem.

Delta declared Michael an “utter superstar”, which probably would have been more helpful back when he was trying to get his album released by Sony, the label Delta is also on, while Ricky opted for him before Seal gave Louise the nod. Joel chose Michael and then Louise discovered the indignity of failing the five second Save.

Winner: Michael

Battle 3: Team Delta – Michael Stangel vs. Rob Edwards

With 80 years of life experience between them – Michael is 45, Rob 35 – the comparative veterans were assigned John Hiatt's Have a Little Faith in Me, which segued nicely into Michael, who had survived life-threatening tumours in his heart and then brain, talking about his life. Michael also invoked “carpe diem”, adding that he seizes every day, which makes you wonder why he keeps letting the previous one go.

In another non-confrontational battle - Michael's hard rocking grit against Rob's soulfulness – Ricky and Joel favoured Michael, while Seal preferred Rob. Delta took a Time Out to consult with Ryan, who basically told her to go with her gut. Delta chose Rob, and there was a rush to save Michael as all three of the other coaches tried to recruit him. Joel won out, by declaring in one of his randomly articulate moments, that Michael was the kind of “father, husband, and man I want to be”. The noise you could hear in the background was the staff of New Idea rushing to prepare an exclusive story about Joel's heartfelt pledge to wife Nicole to become the “father, husband, and man I want to be”.

Winner: Rob; Saved: Michael

Battle 4: Team Seal – Skye Elizabeth v Alex Gibson

Seal wanted to push his two mild-mannered warriors, challenging their lack of self-confidence with Adele's demanding 007 themeSkyfall. He advised Alex, a busker from Canberra, to focus on “a hot girl and be confident”, which may have been awkward given that Alex's girlfriend was in the audience. When Alex sang he made some GIF-friendly tantrum faces as he hit all the right notes, while Skye was unfortunately pitchy. All three non-binding coaches chose Alex, and despite some boilerplate praise for Skye, Seal made the same choice. Skye's dismissal was so final that they didn't even bother to allocate five seconds to showing no one saving her.

Winner: Alex

Battle 5: Team Ricky – Caterina Torres v Katie Reeve

And then there were sparks. Caterina Torres, another contestant who'd previously made professional advances, is all business. Facing off with Katie, a stage belter, she calmly advocated that she had more attitude than her opponent, and basically had nothing to do with “musical theatre”. “Where there is a flame someone's bound to get burnt,” went their song, Pink's Try, and Katie appeared to be throwing some dirty looks at Caterina as the pair provided a genuine competition with each trying to vocally top the other; Joel got so excited he did a reclining dance move that appeared to be based on trying and repeatedly failing to insert a power chord into an extension lead. Is that really the father, husband, and man he wants to be?

Seal, Joel and Delta all nominate Caterina, and Ricky does likewise and chooses her, while Katie's failed Save isn't even shown.

Winner: Caterina

Battle 6: Team Seal – Harrison Greig v Tim Moxey

Thankfully Seal didn't advise Tim, a married pastor, to focus on a “hot girl” in the audience, as the choice of Josh Groban's You Raise Me Up brought a spiritual dimension to the episode's final Battle. Connie Mitchell didn't get to say much of anything, but she did grasp Seal's arm during a tutorial for the two contestants as Tim's nuanced, swelling voice went up against the pop-opera baritone of 18-year-old Harrison, the lad who found the freedom in singing that his lifelong stutter took away from talking.

The song was a contest in escalating power, and the results impressed Joel. “Holy cow,” said Joel, obviously making a reference to the Golden Calf that the Israelites temporarily worshipped while Moses was retrieving the 10 Commandments. Tim's older son, who looked about four years old, was wearing headphones to protect his young ears, but his mother got so excited at dad's performance that she began yelling right next to his tiny head. It wasn't enough, however. Joel, Delta and Ricky plumped for Harrison – “it's crazy what you make me feel,” enthused the latter – and Seal added that it would be a disservice to Australia not to do the same.

Winner: Harrison

And that was the end of the first Battle Rounds episode – six showdowns completed, a mere 26 to go. By no means was it a climactic episode or any of the verdicts greatly surprising, but given how the Blind Auditions had started to drag, the change was welcome. It might also be time to concede that first season coach Keith Urban is being missed. Ricky Martin has a winning smile and says very nice things to nearly everyone, but Urban's concise insight hasn't been duplicated since he departed to American Idol.

11 comments so far

Yes, I agree. Martin is good, but I prefer Keith as well. Not sure why he felt American Idol was a better fit for him, but I wouldn't be surprised that it had to do with money and not much else. I wonder if he regretted that move as I have seen him on Idol and he doesn't seem too comfortable next to his fellow judges and doubt he has much in common with the two so called ":divas" he is stuck with.

As to The Voice, not seeing a clear winner yet as there are quite a few good voices. Really enjoyed some of the performances last night though!

Commenter

emma

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Date and time

April 24, 2013, 12:43PM

I presume that Keith chose American Idol because he wants to spend his time in the US instead of Australia. That and the money.

Commenter

David

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

April 24, 2013, 1:30PM

Dollars and scheduling I'd say - he'll be getting a lot more money to do Idol, and given he both lives in the US and tours throughout the year I'd say he didn't fancy doing episodes via video link in the middle of the night again. I can see why he went with Idol but agree that from the little I've seen of it, he doesn't seem to be enjoying it much.

I hope Ricky's coaching improves. At the moment, he just makes my skin crawl, he's so sleazy!

Commenter

GouGu

Location

Date and time

April 24, 2013, 1:59PM

Population of Australia 23 Million population of America 250 million I just answered why Urban did the US show & not the Oz show has nothing to do with money but exposure exposure exposure

Commenter

MaccaSydney

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Sydney

Date and time

April 24, 2013, 2:05PM

Caterina and Harrison will be the grand-final.

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team noel

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Date and time

April 24, 2013, 12:48PM

Go Rob Edwards. He has some soul in him that's for sure, his blind audition song was awesome and deserves to go all the way!!

Commenter

Zopo

Location

Date and time

April 24, 2013, 1:38PM

Actually there were 56 contestants before the battle rounds (14 per coach) which means there are 22 more battles not 26. Maybe you forgot the ability of each judge to "save" an artist to make their final 8?

Commenter

pedantic

Date and time

April 24, 2013, 1:43PM

I agree, Ricky is good, has a great smile and my wife adores him but Keith's absence is starting to become noticeable. His comments were incisive and helpful, they added knowledge and experience to each contestant. The choices last night were good, I too loved the battle between Katie and Caterina, was hoping for an upset but overall Caterina was better - just. I was surprised by how well Alex performed, I didn't think much of his voice during the blind auditions. The minor upset IMHO was that all four judges went for Harrison and none for Tim Moxley. I thought that Tim, singing a song out of his comfort zone, was excellent while Harrison did not perform as well as in the audition. Maybe the sound quality of my TV distorted their performance but I cannot see how Harrison was better than Tim. Then again, he is young, more handsome and has a compelling back-story... Am I being too cynical?

Commenter

Sarkey

Location

Windsor

Date and time

April 24, 2013, 1:52PM

Funny stuff. I think now the Ricky novelty has worn off Keith is really being missed. He made perceptive remarks, kept the series grounded, and wasn't all about turning the schmaltz factor ("you're a born star"..."Australia has just witnessed a miracle" etc) up to 11.

And what is the point in introducing the 'saving' mechanism if you don't bother to show it? Obviously not as dramatic as hoped. It hasn't really taken off yet but Karise is a very tough act to follow.

Commenter

paulb

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Date and time

April 24, 2013, 2:07PM

Urban was very good but so is Martin. the headline smacks of the usual local bias.